Princess Raen has lost everything — her parents, her home and her kingdom. She places her life in the hands of the only person she can trust. Her hero wears armor, but he does not arrive on a white stallion. He flies and breathes smoke.

Arsdon finds the city of Tylis in ruin and the princess he secretly loves in mortal danger. Keeping the promise he made to the dying queen becomes a true conflict between love and duty. Protecting the princess is an honor. Loving her is easy. Suppressing his desire is impossible. Giving her up — heartbreaking.

Praise for Play With Fire

“I think readers will embrace this love story with open arms.”

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amethyst Nymph

EXCERPT

Arsdon awoke to a star-filled sky and a soft body pressed against his. He smiled, thinking how many nights he’d dreamed of holding Raen in his arms. Then he remembered the events that had brought them to this place and was ashamed. The princess was curled against him, seeking warmth and comfort because the fire had died down and the night air was cold.

He should have insisted she bring a coat, but getting her out of danger had overridden all thought of comfort.

Carefully, Arsdon settled the sleeping princess against the boulder. He stoked the fire and added more sticks and branches. Then he sat beside her and gathered her in his arms.

She slid her arms around his waist and pressed her breasts against his chest. “Do you mind?”

He shouldn’t hold her so intimately, but he’d wanted her for so long. “I’m sorry I awakened you, Your Highness.”

“I dreamed about them.” Her shoulders shook and her sobs broke his heart.

He blinked back tears of his own. “The king and queen were kind to me. I will miss them.”

“Mama was your protector. She said you had lost your parents when you were a boy, but she never told me how they died.”

“A band of rogue dragons killed my family and decimated my clan. They believed we had a hoard of gold.”

“How did you survive?”

“I wasn’t home. I was young and wanting my independence. I was camping out in the mountains, hunting by day, sleeping beneath the stars. What I saw when I returned put me on a path to revenge.”

“You went after them?”

“I did, but I was easily overpowered. I expected them to kill me, but the leader decided to sell me. The buyer kept me in chains and put me on display at city fairs. People paid money to see me blow smoke and spew fire. He made the mistake of putting me on display at the fair in Tylis. One day a beautiful woman wearing a sword saw me. Instead of tossing a coin to my owner, she arrested him. Your mother saved my life.”

“I’m sorry, Arsdon. Until now, I didn’t understand the pain of losing your family .”

“It was a long time ago.”

“Do you still think about them, your parents?”

“Yes, but Valitar taught me to focus on the good memories, not that terrible day .”

“I’ll never forget.”

Training with Valitar had given him the tools to control his anger and deal with his grief. He stroked Raen’s hair. “I thought if I let go of my anger I was betraying their memories. I wasn’t a good pupil in the beginning, but the master was patient. This is a difficult time. Let Valitar help you.”

Raen slid her hand around his neck and lifted her mouth to his. “Right now, it is you I need.”